As many of you have heard, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has become a staple annual event at Across U-hub.

In the past three years, we successfully raised over $60,000 to provide opportunities for East Asian youth to develop leadership qualities, build their confidence and pursue their dreams. Across U-hub’s participants become encouraged and strengthened by each other’s determination and resiliency during their 5-month marathon training.

Why Should You Join?

To Get healthy

Training for the marathon will increase your endurance and stamina. Your heart will be stronger; your will have better blood circulation and your muscles will feel strengthened and energetic. You will also feel more upbeat and cheerful.

Support Across U-hub

While running a marathon for its own sake is an extremely satisfying experience, you are also giving yourself and other East Asian youth the opportunity to develop leadership qualities and uncover their potentials through fundraising for Across U-hub.

Sense of accomplishment in a community

Running a marathon is not only an achievement, research has proven that it can enhance success in other areas of life; for example, personal character development. You are also more likely to be friends with people who motivate and inspire positive thinking.

Invite Your Friends

Make a Donation

Testimonials

I’m also thankful that Across created this wonderful event and opportunity for me and other teens to run together. Without the support from them, I wouldn’t have the motivation and the confidence to join this marathon or even start to run. Through monthly practices at Across, I realize that not only will our practices improve our running, but we are able to meet new people and make new friends.

Last year was my second year joining the half-marathon and I felt like I blindly joined the marathon. I was not motivated and I stopped doing many of my regular physical activities. I was definitely not prepared physically and mentally for my race. Not knowing what to expect of myself, I used a “running plan” that my friend was going to use. It was basically running each kilometer under a certain time to keep up with my own pace. I told myself that I would follow the plan and not gonna stop, but eventually I started walking at around the 13km mark. I picked up my pace and continued with the plan after some quick rest. Strides after strides, I started sprinting in the last 3km or so to the finishing line. To my surprise, I ran slightly faster than my first year joining. I guess sometimes running smarter is better than running harder. But, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t dare to not prepare myself again for my 3rd time joining in 2015!

Nick Poon21k marathoner, 2013, 2014

Completing the 21km half marathon was a huge milestone for me. This experience has pushed me beyond both my physical and mental limits as an athlete. I could not have accomplished this 21km milestone in my life without the support of my friends at Across U- Hub. They kept me accountable, pushed me to keep going and cheered on the sidelines. Without them, I would not have been able to check this off my bucket list. Running allowed me to grow as a person since it helped me redefine the words: self discipline and perseverance. The dedication of training 4-5 times a week no matter how tired was a big test of self discipline for me. And the will to keep going at the 17km mark reflected my ability to persevere through hardships. This has been an amazing experience that I recommend everyone to do, whether it’s just the 5K or the 42K. Get outside, and get active. You will be surprised what you can accomplish when you believe in yourself and when you have the right encouragement.

Rocky Cheung21k marathoner, 2014

In October 2014, I survived my first Half Marathon. My sister’s response to my Facebook announcement of finishing the race and asking for donations really captures the reaction many people had. She wrote “Go Nancy! I will donate! I think this is a big feat (haha, get it?) for you, esp. considering your past of not exercising.”

For those who know me, I am not an active person. My goal that year was just to finish without being disqualified. I didn’t prepare well that year and ended up having to go to the chiropractor for 6 months after to fix my knee and lower back. But, I’m still glad that I showed up and was able to achieve and surpass my goals. I was able to do this thanks to my “big sister” Diana at Across U-hub. It was through her positive attitude and encouragement especially between kilometers 15-21, that I was able to persevere and finish the race. I actually surprised myself and this experience gave me a new understanding of myself. I learned that I can actually achieve more than what I expect of myself and what others expect of me through my perseverance and encouragement of those around me.

This year, I am also running the 21K and have also registered my mother for the 5K. Young or …not young, we can always try new things and surprise ourselves and the people around us.

Nancy Fok21k marathoner, 2014

FAQ

All participants will be organized into coloured corrals at the start line. Corral assignment will be based on the predicted finishing time you submitted when registering. On race day, look for the coloured flag that corresponds to the stripe on your bib.

Your predicted finishing time is very important to ensure you start the event with participants of a similar ability. Please see below for guidelines to assist in determining your predicted finishing time.

In order to ensure that all participants have a safe and enjoyable race, we will be starting the races in waves. Please be in your start corral 10 minutes before the start of the race or you will have to start at the back of the corrals. The corral entrances will close so we can move participants through the start corral in preparation for their wave start time.

You need to know what your Bib # is (will be emailed to you on October 12 and posted on the online confirmation list and will be available for look up at the expo)
Photo ID
OR
A printout of your registration email confirmation (or have it on your smart phone to show the volunteers).

Yes. They need to know what your Bib # is (will be emailed to you and posted on the online confirmation list on October 12 and will be available for look up at the expo)
Email or written permission from you (can be shown to volunteers from your smart phone)
A printout of your registration email confirmation (or have it on their smart phone to show the volunteers)
OR a copy of your photo ID
If picking up for friends/family, you can only do so for a maximum of three (3) including your own packet.